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Journalism of Courage
Faced with a dip in both tax and non-tax revenues due to economic slowdown,Orissa government is now planning to take the ordinance route for pending legislations such as forest development tax,comprehensive legislation on apartment ownership and compulsory registration of power of attorney.
An official review of the tax and non-tax revenue collection for the first quarter of 2013-14 in mid-August showed a tax growth of little over 12 per cent against the projected 15 per cent. Non-tax revenues grew less than 5 per cent over the same period last year against a projected growth of 8 per cent. In 2013-14,Orissa has projected Rs 17,605 crore in tax revenue and Rs 6,850 crore in non-tax revenue. As of June 30,the government could only mop up less than 20 per cent of the total projected revenue.
Mining revenues have fallen,contributing to the first quarter slump. With royalties on major minerals like iron ore and manganese now fixed at 10 per cent,officials said a hike of another 5 per cent would help meet the target.
To tide over the shortfall,the government wants the forest development tax bill to be passed,which proposes a 15 per cent tax on the sale value of minerals raised on forest land and could net Rs 1,000 crore. The other sources the government is looking at are apartment ownership for which it wants to pass the legislation,and also the power of attorney registration.
If the Bills cant be expedited,we may have to take the ordinance route for early realisation of revenue, said a finance department official.
Other measures include out-of-court settlements with defaulters such as SAIL,Nalco etc to recover arrears in industrial water rate,electricity duty and commercial tax that run into several crores of rupees.
